Road signal device or the like



A118' 17, 1948. c. J. wADswoRTH ROAD SIGNAL DEVICE OR THE LIKE I 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1947 INVENToR. (gar/@S ffl/asafarf/ Y vormgg/S.

c. J. wADswORTl-l ROAD SIGNAL DEVICE 0R THE LIKE Aug. 17, 1948. l

2 sheets-sheet 2 vFiled Feb. 5, 1947 Z4/e: a

Patented Aug. 17, 1948 ROAD SIGNAL DEVICE OR THE LIKE Charles J.Wadsworth, N utley, N. J., assignor to R. E. Dietz Company, New York, N.Y.

Application February s, 1947, serial No. 726,005

A1oclaims. (ci. 24a- 33) This invention relates to signalling devicesand the like, Iand more especially` to improvements in portablesignalling devices of theroad reflector type that are adapted -to beplaced in operative position on a road or highway lto warn the driversof approaching motor vehicles ofthe presence, for instance, of a parkedtruck or other tramo hazard or workmen on the road, as a safetyprecaution for .the prevention` of accidents. Such signalling devicesmay comprise a. signalling panel, frame'or member carrying' orsupporting one or more light reflecting or refracting elements adaptedvto be illuminated bythe lights of an approaching vehicle, or signallingmeans of kany other desired type, Aand means for supportingsaidsignallingmember in vupright positiony wherever desired; and preferablysuch signalling devices are madel of a construction adapting them to befolded or collapsed into convenient condition for their: storage ortransportation, as in motor trucks, said devices having parts adapted tobe readily moved from the folded or collapsed conditions to operativepositions for supporting the devices in the intende-d position .on theroad or other supporting surface. v

One object of my invention is Vto provide a signalling device,.or devicesuitable for such purposes as mentioned, which is of practical anddesirable novel construction. l A

Other objects of the invention are t provide a device ofthe sortmentioned which is of simple and economical improved constructionadaptingit to. be folded or collapsed. into compact condition and havingsupporting members capable of being` easily and quickly moved from theinoperative or folded positions tooperative positions in which theywill'support the device stably and securelyl are adapted to bereleasably held in different adand will be securely retained in theoperativeY powhich includes simple means for releasably re taining thesupporting members in their folded positions; and in ywhich thesupporting members justed positions for supporting the lmain orsignalling member of the device at diierent desired heights abovethe'road or supporting surface.

Further objects and `advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing specification of the preferred embodimentsfof the inventionshown'in the accompanying drawings, and the novelfeatures oftheinvention are set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawings: y Fig. 1 is an elevation of a signalling device or thelike embodying my invention', showing a face view of thesame inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a. side or edge elevation thereof showingthe same in operativefposition by solid lines,andv indicating by brokenlines fboth thefolded land partially opened positions of thesupportingmembers. c v. f Fig. 3 is a broken sectional plan thereof on alarger scale on line 3 3, Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device in its open or operativecondition. Y V Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side or edge elevationV showing aslightmodication of Vthe, invention'in, which the supporting legs ormembers releasablyI interengage for holding them in partly opened,4operative supporting positions. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 66, Fig. 5,. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of another modified embodimentof the invention, showing. the opened, operative positions of thesupporting members.. Fig. 8 Iis a fragmentary side elevation thereof.The signalling device comprisesa main panel, frame or member -IU whi-chmay be provided on one or both of its opposite, .or front and rear faceswith signalling -or indicating means I|and sup-4 porting legs or membersvI2- and I3 which Yare hinged or connected to the main memberIIl sofas'`to be movable from operative positions in which they support the mainmember in upright posi-V tion,r to collapsed or folded positions inwhichthey extend lengthwise beside or adjacent the mainmember. Theinvention is not concerned with rthe type, `constructionor arrangementLofthe s ig- 1-4, .the supporting members I2, i3 for the main orA panelmember preferably comprise opposi-telyj disposed pairs of legs which arehinged to the lower end portion -of the main panel or member at oppositesides of the plane thereof, so that each pair of legs can be swung froma folded position at one side of and extending up lengthwise of orbeside the panel I through an angle of approximately 270 degrees, Ito asupporting position inwhich thepair oi legs extends beneath the: panelmember and is adapted to rest on the road or other supporting surface atthe opposite side of the plane of the panel member. In the preferredlconstruction shown, each supporting member I2, I3 is formed by a rodorwi-re bent into substantially U-shape to provide spaced parallel legsconnected by a crossbar I4 at their inner ends. The cross bar I4 of onepair of legs l`,the device will remain in `the intended upright I2 ishinged in a bearing sleeve or par-t `I5 eX- tending parallel with theplane of the main panel I0 at one side of its lower end, and the crossb'ar of the other pair of legs I3 is similarly hinged in a p`a;ralle ,lybearing sleeve or part |16` at theA oppsite' side of the main panel. TheYbearing sleeves can-be conveniently formed lby tubular;partsv ofsimilar angle-,shaped hinge strips I 'I riveted on the' lowerend'portion ofthe ,main panel -Il at oppositeA faces thereof. One pairof legs, I2 for instance, can beswungfrom a, `folded position, indicated"by jbrokenlines in Fig. 2 in which the l'egs extend upwardly at theright hand side or face of the main panel downwardlythrough an arcofapproximately 270 degrees to thesupportlng position shown, in whichthis pair of legs extend-s from its'hnge bearing I5 beneath and beyondthe Aleft hand side of the main panel.- Similarly, the second pair oflegs` I3 can rbe swung from the upwardly extending folded position atthe `left hand side of the main paneL'as shown by broken lines Vin Fig.2, downward-ly throughfapproximately Lv2'7Ofdegrees to the operativeposition shown, in which this pair of legs extendsv from itjs hingebearing i6 at the left hand side of the mainpanel beneath the latter andoutwardly to the vright hand side thereof. Thus, the ,two pairs of `legswhen in operative supporting position, wil extend in downwardly andvoppositely inclined cross'ingpositions beneath the main panelA witheach'p'air of legs engaging or abutting upwardly between, its inner andouter ends aga-inst a relatively fixed part of the device, whereby theouter vends ofr the legs will beheld from upward movement away from the';supporting position, andv the-legs will provide a supporting base forthe dev ce without thev necessity for Vanylai'fcl'ling or securingmeans-for holding the legs in' their cpeijative sul'aporting positions.In the device oons'tructed as shown in Figs. 1 t o 4, the tw-o U -shapedsupporting members are duplicates'l and of like width, or having theirparallel legs equally spaced, and they are'hinged on the panelme'rnb'erin offset relation to each o'ther, so that one leg of each pair is'disposed between the legs of the other pair when the legs are in theirsupporting positions. With this, arrangement, one leg of leach pair isadapted ,toA abut upwardly against the overlying end yportion of the4cross bar I4 of the other pair ofnflegs to prevent the upward movementof the legsv out of supporting position. The same result could, however,be eifected by upward engagement of each supporting memberrwith another`relatively fixed part at the base portion of the panel member. A

w l:Thesupporting legs or members thus =support tl'eylnain or panelmember I spaced above ,or oii of the road or supporting surface adistance dependent upon the inclination of the legs when position evenin strong or s-evere winds. The oute'r -en'ds of the legs may be punchedor formed `so as to provide relatively sharp points or claws .IL B'adapted to enter -or dig into the road surface or other supportingsurface, and act to prevent the Idevice from being shifted on thesupporting surface, as by wind pressure. The supporting legs or membersmay be V.of a length approximately equal to the height of the main orpanel niember I-0` of the dviceso that they will aiord ample support,and yet when in foldedv position, will notv extend substantially beyondthe upper end of Ytl'iemfain panel, and thus w-i-ll not substantiallyincrease the overall length or height dimension of vthe device when in'its collapsed or folded conditio'n. d

The signalling device is preferably provided at its lower end portionwith holding fingers 20 which are adapted -to engage the vsupportinglegs or members I2, I3, when' folded for releasably retaining them intheir folded positions. As shown, these holding fingers are fonned byupwardly kand outwardly bent parts ofl the hinge strips I] located atdiametrically opposite corners of the baseffof the p anel'memberandthesenngers have lateral projecting rounded `nibs or tips 2I Ppast whichythe adjacent' legs ofthe supporting members are adapted to be sprungwhen` folding the legs, and which nibs engage and hold the legs in theirupper folded positions. The upright portions 22 of the holding i-ngers,and upbent parts 423 of the hinge strips at the remaining corners of thepanel base function as stops to engage and linut the folding movement ofthe 'supporting legs to prevent them from being moved inwardly beyondtheir intended substantially upright folded positions.

In the modif-led form of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, one leg ofeach pair is provided or formed with `an indentation or ,part arrangedIfor engagement with the uadjacent leg of theother pair when the legsare 'swung gto ak crossing position, such as indicated inFig. 5, andv bythe broken lines 25a. in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, one leg ofeach lpair 'of legs I2, I3 isv made with a depression l25 into which[the adjacent one of the other pair I3 is adapted to seat and bereleasably retained by the inherent resilience or spring action of thelegs for releasa'bly retaining the legs in the crossed position shown.Instead of the depression 25`shown, vone or both of the legs ,could beprovided with spaced humps adapted similarly to releasably Yhold thelegs in a particular crossed position, and by providing the depressionsor humps' at diiferent vvpoints along the lengths of the legs, the legscan be releas'ably retained in different crossed positions morev or lessinclined to the vertical. In' this way, the panel member, ifv desired fo-r any reason, can 'be supported upright at -a greater or `lessdistance above the supporting surface, Iand so givetheA device greaterYor less height when in operative position.

Figs. r1 and 3 show another .modified form of the signallingdevice inwhich the legs of one U-shaped supporting member, as I2a.,` are spacedfarther apart than the legsof the other U-shaped member 13a, and thelegs of the first member are adapted to straddle those of the secondmember when the members are movedfto their crossed supportingpositions.` The cross bars Ma of the U-shaped legs in this form of thedevice may be made with out-bent offset portions 26 between their endsarranged to labut upwardly against thebottom of 'the base portion of thepanel member, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, to prevent upward movement ofthe outer ends ,of the legs out of their panel-supporting positions. Thehinge bearing sleeves 15a and 16a in this device may be removed rtoafford spaces in, which the'offset parts 26 of the cross bars of thelegs can move inthe folding and opening movements of the supporting'legs or members. Otherwise this modification can be of substantiallythe construction first described.

In the signalling device as shown in Figs; 1 to 3, the hinge strips ilfor the supporting legs or members l2, I3, may have their ends extendedVbeyond the side edges of the main portion of the panel member l and benttowards each other,v

and thereby form sockets 21 adapted to receive and support the staffs offlanges or other elements at opposite edges of the panel member for useas daylight sign-als.

I claim as my invention:

1. A signal device or the like comprising a main member havingsignalling means and adapted to occupy a standing position, supportingmembers therefor hinged at one end to the lower portion of said mainmember at opposite sides of the plane thereof to swing from upwardlyextending folded positions adjacent said main member to supportingpositions in which each supporting member extends from its hingeconnection a-t one side of said main member transversely below said mainmember to the opposite side thereof and rests at its free end on a sup-vporting surface for supporting said main member in standing position offof said supporting surface, and means constituting par-ts of said devicewhich releasably retain said supporting members in their said supportingpositions.

2. A signal device or the like comprising a main member havingsignalling means and adapted to occupy a standing position, andsupporting members therefor hinged at o-ne end to the lower portion ofsaid main member at opposite sides of the plane thereof to swing fromupwardly extending folded positions adjacelt said main member tosupporting positions in which each supporting member extends from itshinge connection at one side of said main member transversely below saidmain member to the opposite side thereof and rests at its free end on asupporting surface for supporting said main .member in standing positionoff of said supporting surface, said device including abutments whichengage said supporting members and resist upward movement of the freeends of said supporting members from their supporting positions.

3. A signal device or the like comprising a main member havingsignalling means and adapted to occupy a standing position, supportingmembers therefor movably connected at one end with said main memberadjacent the lower end thereof to move from inoperative .positions inwhich they extend upwardly beside opposite sides of said main member tosupporting positions in which they extend transversely beneath said mainmember to opposite sides thereof to rest on a supporting surface forsupporting said. main member in standing position, and relativelyxed-abutments on said device which bear downwardly against saidsupporting members between their ends and voppose upward movement of theouter ends of said supporting member from their supporting positions.

4. A signal device or the like comprising` a main member havingsignalling means and adapted to occupy a standing position, andlsupporting members therefor each having a pair of spaced legs andhinged at one end to the lower portion ofsaidman .member at'oppositesides thereof to swing from upwardly extended foldedv positionsadjacentsaid main, member to supporting positions in which they. extendin opposite downwardly inclined crossing positions below said main.member and rest at their free ends on a supporting surface forsupporting said main mem-j ber in standing ,position off of saidsurface, said device having .parts which engagesaid supporting membersand resist upward movement of the free ends of 'said supporting membersfrom their supporting positions. l

5. A signal'device or the like comprising a main member havingsignalling means and adaptedt occupy a standing position, andsubstantially U-shaped supporting members hinged at their inner ends tothe lower portion of lthe main member at opposite sides of the planethereof to swing from folded upstanding positions at opposite sides ofsaid main member to supporting positions in which they extend from theirhinge connections in opposite downwardly inclined crossing positionsbelow the lower end of said main member with their outer ends resting ona supporting surface, said device including means which engage saidsupporting members and resist upward movement of the outer ends of saidmembers from their supporting positions.

6. A signal device or the like comprising a signalling panel adapted tooccupy a. standing position, supporting members therefor hinged to thelower portion of said panel at points offset to opposite sides of theplane of said panel to swing from upwardly extend-ing folded positionsadjacent said panel to panel supporting positions in which eachsupporting member extends beneath the lower end of said panel from itshinge connection at one side of the panel to the opposite side thereofand rests at its free end on a supporting surface for supporting saidpanel in upright position off of said supporting surface, and abutmentmeans carried by said panel which bear downwardly on said supportingmembers and resist upward movement of the free ends of said supportingmembers from their supporting positions.

'7. A signal device or the like comprising a signalling panel adapted tooccupy a standing position, hinge pieces projecting outwardly from thelower end portion of said panel at opposite sides thereof, and a pair ofsubstantially U-shaped supporting members each having a pair of spacedlegs connected by a cross bar at their inner ends, and hinged by saidcross bars to said hinge pieces to swing from upwardly extended foldedpositions adjacent said panel to supporting positions in which theyextend in opposite directions under the lower end of said panel witheach supporting member extending from its hinge piece at one side of thepanel beyond the opposite side of the panel, each of said supportingmembers when in support- @kme 7 ing position engaging a hinge part-forthe other meinberlin resist urpivvardmovement` of the outer ends of saidsupporting membersffrom-their supporting `positions.

8". A signal device or` the like comprising a signalling panel adaptedtoA occupy a.A standing position; and a' pair` oi" substantiallyU-sh'aped supporting members eaolr having' a pair'of spaced legsconnected by a cross-bar at their inner` endsgand hinged' by said crossbars: to the' lower endportif'on of said panel` at' opposite si'des ofthe panel plane to swing from upwardly extended' folded' positionsadjacent said panel to supporti-ng positions in which they extend in"opposite" directions under the lower erd of said panel with eachsupporting member' extending from its' hinge at one` side of' the panelbeyond' the opposite, side of' the panel; egon of .said supportingmembers when in its sup porting position bearing upwardly against a partat. the Iower lend of said panel to hold' said sup'- porting, membersagainst upward' movement out of their supporting positions.

9`. A signalfdevioe or the like according to claim 8;' including.fingers on Said panel which said supporting `merrnbers engage in theirfolded positions forreleasably holding the supporting members foldedr 5Number' 84 $0. 'A signal devieeor the kiik-e comprising a sigling paneladapted tif/occupy Aa: standing position;y hingepieces projectingoutwardly from the lower endl portion of said panel at opposite sidesthereof', and a pair of substantially U-sliaped-l supporting memberseachhaving ra: pair' of spaced legs eonnectedby a cross'bar at theirinner ends, and hinged' by said cross bars to-said hingepieces to'sw-ing from upwardly extended folded positions adjacent said panel toVsupporting positions in which they extend beneath the lowerl end' ofsaid panel inopposiie downwardly inclined crossing positions@saidsupporting members having parts which interengage Where the memberscross, for releasabiy hoidingsaid members in said crossed supportingpositions. v

CHARLES J. WADSWORTH.

REFERENCES GITE!)z The following references.' ara orf `reeomrkl in:- theii'lel of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name I y Date 2,235,280 Carver w Mar. 18, 1941'

